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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the better side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker scores a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

The London club's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to claim victory in Bergamo.

Each club entered this match with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to be on ten points.

For extended periods there was not much to separate them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's cross.

But The Serie A side always looked a threat going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the defence.

James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta upped the intensity and rightfully drew level when ex-West Ham striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta scored the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a powerful strike.

The visitors attempted to salvage a draw late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage fixtures remaining.

Atalanta, in contrast, jump up to third place, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Persists

This was a deeply disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top eight finish they need to bypass the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with no points after securing the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's worrying streak of form in all competitions.

Since defeating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now winless in their last four matches.

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds United and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view rotation as necessary as he attempts to handle players' minutes and compete both at home and abroad, but he maintained the core group of players remains the unchanged for crucial fixtures.

"I think tonight [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and the Gunners," he said.

"If you see the five alterations that we did compared to the previous game it may be a change but it is the same eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones who played this evening are the ones who feature in almost all the games."

What's Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European fixture sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the same time.